The Keesing Collection on Popular Music and Culture consists of books, serials, recordings, sheet music, clippings, memorabilia, and teaching and research materials related to twentieth-century American popular music, and to rock and roll music in particular. The materials were collected by Hugo Keesing, a popular culture scholar and former professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland, and by Dr. Keesing's brother, Wouter Keesing. The bulk of the collection covers the period from the 1950s to the 1990s. Serials in the collection include Rolling Stone, Pulse, Discoveries, Goldmine, and many other national and regional music serials. Research and teaching materials include Dr. Keesing's University of Maryland syllabi and class notes, writings, auction lists, catalogues, and price guides. In addition to the books housed with the archival collection, there are an additional 3,000 books that are can be found through the University of Maryland catalog. The collection is broad in its coverage of twentieth-century popular music; however, the collection originally contained a significant number of books, magazines, clippings, and memorabilia related to Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Roy Orbison, and Fats Domino, respectively. These materials have been organized into four separate collections; each collection has its own finding aid. Please note: While the majority of this collection has been processed, select series may not yet have complete inventories. Please contact the curator for more information.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

The Keesing Collection on Popular Music and Culture, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.

Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Hugo Arnold Keesing is a popular culture scholar and a former professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is particularly known for his expertise on popular music and the Vietnam War. Keesing was born in the Netherlands in 1943 and moved to the United States when he was seven years old. An avid collector, Keesing's interest in popular music began when he started collecting records in the mid-1950s.

From 1970 to 1971, after earning degrees from Duke University and George Washington University, Keesing taught psychology courses for the University of Maryland to U.S. military personnel and their dependents stationed in Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand. He then taught courses for the University in various European countries, and became the head of the University's European Division Office in 1974. During this time, Keesing was also conducting the research that would culminate in his doctoral dissertation, "Youth in Transition: A Content Analysis of Two Decades of Popular Music." He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from Adelphi University in 1972.

In the mid-1970s, Keesing returned to the United States and began teaching a course entitled "Popular Music in American Society" at the University of Maryland in College Park. This course sought to interest students in contemporary history through topical music. As a result of this course and others he taught for the University, Keesing amassed large collections of teaching and research materials related to popular music and other aspects of popular culture, with a particular strength in Vietnam War-era materials. These materials ranged from music records and radio recordings to reference books, popular books, and realia. Keesing taught at the University of Maryland until the mid-1990s. He also worked for the graduate school program of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 1980 until 2006.

In 1996, Keesing began a partnership with Special Collections in Performing Arts at the University of Maryland, eventually donating large portions of his popular music and culture collections to the University, as well as collections amassed by his brother, Wouter Keesing.

Keesing is currently active as a lecturer, writer, and consultant. In 2010, he curated the 13-CD boxed set Next Stop is Vietnam: The War on record, 1961-2008 and wrote the accompanying 304-page book.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Keesing Collection on Popular Music and Culture has been separated into five collections; each collection has its own finding aid. This collection consists of books, serials, recordings, sheet music, clippings, memorabilia, and teaching and research materials related to twentieth-century American popular music, and to rock and roll music in particular.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Gift of Hugo Keesing received in shipments beginning in September 1996. Receipt of materials is ongoing (as of 2014).

Processing Information

Processed by:

Mary Crauderueff

Encoded by:

EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Mary Crauderueff, September 2008 and revised by Cassandra N. Berman, June 2011.

Series 3: Clippings/Scrapbooks, undated (23 linear feet)

This series contains popular music and culture clippings from newsprint and magazines, as well as scrapbooks and Top 40 lists. It has been divided into three subseries.

This series is in progress. The subseries contain many topics, including Advertisement, specific Artists, Music Related Topics, Criticism and Commentary, Local Music, and Obituaries, among others. Each box has a brief description of what is included, however, more detailed inventories can be requested through the Curator.

Series 4: Magazines, 1969-1996, undated (45.50 linear feet)

This series contains magazines including runs from Rolling Stone, Pulse, Discoveries, and Goldmine, as well as many other titles. Many magazines are duplicated. It has been divided into five subseries.

Subseries 4.1: Rolling Stone, 1969-1991 (14 linear feet)

This subseries includes Rolling Stone magazines from 1969 to 1991 (issues 27-599). This subseries does not contain a full run; to view the box inventory, please contact the Curator.

The Philadelphia Phonograph -- March 1974-May 1974, August 1974 - July 1975 (except October 1974), September 1975 - December 1975, January 1976, March 1976, May-June 1976, August 1976 - September 1976, November 1976-December 1976, 1974-1976

Content of Music and the Lyrics of Records. September 19, 1985. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate. 99-529. (2 copies), 1985

series 5.3

box 9

folder 20

Independent Regulatory Commissions. January 3, 1961. Report of the Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 2238., 1961

series 5.3

box 9

folder 21

Investigation of Regulatory Commission and Agencies. February 9, 1960. Interim Report of this Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. 1258, 1960

series 5.3

box 9

folder 22

Notice of Pendency of Class Action, of Proposed Settlement, and of Hearing on Proposed Settlement; and Claim Form against Rob Pilatus. Circa, 1991

series 5.3

box 9

folder 23

Responsibilities of Broadcasting Licensees and Station Personnel. February-March 1990. Subcommittee of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. House of Representatives. Payola Hearings Volumes 1 and 2, 1960

series 5.3

box 9

folder 24

Academic papers written by Keesing or sent to Keesing, 1971-1993, undated

series 5.3

box 9

folder 25

Keesing Subject Files: Book of Lists - Book of Lists 2: Greatest Rock Albums of All Time 1-20, 1980

Subseries 5.5: Index Cards, 1976-199, undated (0.50 linear feet)

This subseries includes cards from "KMA" - Keesing Music Archives - that were used to record the date of a book's accession, other information about the book, and often names and dates that might correspond to a borrower of the book. Books were collected between: 1976-1994, undated.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Index Cards KMA Books - Approximately 1250 cards, 1976-1994, undated

series 5.5

box 13

folder 1

Index Cards KMA Books - Approximately 1250 cards, 1976-1994, undated

series 5.5

box 14

folder 1

Index Cards KMA Books - Approximately 820 cards, 1976-1994, undated

series 5.5

box 15

folder 1

Series 6: Sheet Music, 1952, 1961-1999, undated (11.25 linear feet)

This series contains sheet music, and sheet music books. It includes sheet music from 1970-1987, as well as from the 1990s.

The Innocence, There's Got to be a Word!/ I don't want to be around you, undated

series 7.3

box 2

folder 1

item 7.0

Hugo Winterhalter, The Flying Dutchman/ Count Every Star, undated

series 7.3

box 2

folder 1

item 8.0

Eddy Howard, I'll See you in my Dreams/Stolen Love, undated

series 7.3

box 2

folder 1

item 9.0

The Geezinslaw Brothers, Tender Hearted Me/Chubby (Please Take You Love to Town), undated

series 7.3

box 2

folder 1

item 10.0

The Swan Lake sides 6A&B, undated

series 7.3

box 2

folder 1

item 11.0

Side A: Crazy Otto Rag, I Wonder Whose Kissing her Now, I Love you Truly, The
Band played On; Side B: Bicycle Built for Two, The Bowery, the Sidewalks of New York, Sorrento, Santa Lucia, O Sole Mio, undated

This series includes auction lists from both personal auctions and organizational ones that Hugo and Wouter Keesing bought from. It also includes catalogues and price guides, both in magazine and book form. Many items contain marginalia. It has been divided into two subseries.

Subseries 8.1: Books, 1968-1995 (2.50 linear feet)

This series consists of books, arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Steinmetz, Melvin; Sheet Music and Songbook Set Sale List, December 1981

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 3.0

Stopler, Darryl; "Auction closes April 13th", undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 4.0

Stopler, Darryl; "Auction closes July 10th", undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 5.0

Street Level Trading Company Inc., undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 6.0

Taylor, Richard D.; Blues, R & B, Rockabilly, Rock & Roll, undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 7.0

Time Warner Direct Entertainment; Music and Gifts by Mail, 1991

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 8.0

Twist & Shout; My Back Pages vol. 2 no. 2, Winter 1994

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 9.0

Tuff City Records; note on prices, undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 10.0

Tuff City Records; Night Train International, undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 11.0

Tuff City Records; Catalog, undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 12.0

Wells, George , August 1983

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 13.0

Wenzel's Music Town, February 1977

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 14.0

Widon 1540, August 1977

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 15.0

Witzcrreck, Arnie, August 1996

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 16.0

Witzcrreck, H.; 78 RPM Auction, undated

series 8.2

box 16

folder 20

item 17.0

B & B Music Express, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 1

F. L. Moore, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 2

Golden Discs Unlimited, November 1972 - October 1975

series 8.2

box 17

folder 3

Jazz Etc., c. 1980 - January 1988, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 4

Lynn-Art Enterprises, Lists 54-57, December 1972 - c. April 1973

series 8.2

box 17

folder 5

Mark's One Stop Shop, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 6

Munshaw, Chuck, July 1995 - February 1996

series 8.2

box 17

folder 7

Oilschlager, Kay, marginalia, July 1983

series 8.2

box 17

folder 8

Pattison, Terry, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 9

Rare Records Unlimited, November 1972 - April 1973

series 8.2

box 17

folder 10

Ray Avery-s Rare Records, August 1970 - December 1970, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 11

Rip Lay, September 1973, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 12

Scott, Joe, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 13

Scherzer Rare Records, Inc., July 1995 - September 1995, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 14

Stein, D.A., December 1982, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 15

Stopler, Jeff, July 1975 - August 1978

series 8.2

box 17

folder 16

Sturm, Adriaan J., December 1977 - September 1986

series 8.2

box 17

folder 17

West, Dennis W., August 1977 - March 1985

series 8.2

box 17

folder 18

West, Dennis W., May 1985 - December 1988, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 19

Who Put the Bomp Auction Lists, November 1975 - May 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 20

Misc. Oversize Lists, Ace Video & Music - McCallum, Hugh

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

Ace Video & Music, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 1.0

Biard, Rhonda, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 2.0

Cattaneo, Bob, Super Soul Catalog #11, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 3.0

Charboneau, Bob, List #15, April 1977

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 4.0

Charboneau, R., List #16, August 1977

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 5.0

Collectors Directory, c. 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 6.0

Comeau, Paul E., undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 7.0

Davis Jr. Raymond, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 8.0

D.J. Concert Productions "Salute to the Sixties: Sounds of Philadelphia", September 2002

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 9.0

Durrell, David, marginalia, April 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 10.0

Ferlingere, Bob, Auction list #4, September 1975

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 11.0

Flyright, January 1977

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 12.0

Fortune Records, September 1981

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 13.0

Harmer, John, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 14.0

House of Oldies, Best Selling Hip Oldies, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 15.0

House of Sounds, Inc., Oldies Listing No. 326, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 16.0

International Artists, List #201, November 1975

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 17.0

Knights of the Turntable, October 1977

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 18.0

Knights of the Turntable, February 1978

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 19.0

Knights of the Turntable, February 1981

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 20.0

Knights of the Turntable, March 1981

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 21.0

Knights of the Turntable, July 1981

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 22.0

Knights of the Turntable, October 1981

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 23.0

Lee Records, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 24.0

Liptak, George, November 1978

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 25.0

Liptak, George, February 1979

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 26.0

McCallum, Hugh, April 1986

series 8.2

box 17

folder 21

item 27.0

Misc. Oversize Lists, Moerer, Craig - Waxie Maxie's

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

Moerer, Craig, January 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 1.0

Music Scene , June 1981

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 2.0

National Record Collectors, August 1985

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 3.0

The Old Sound, August 1993

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 4.0

The Old Sound, October 1993

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 5.0

Paul, Fred, March 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 6.0

Paul, Fred, July 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 7.0

Presley, Norman, January 1985

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 8.0

Ram Records, September 1980

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 9.0

Record Museum, Best Selling Hip Oldies, c. 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 10.0

Record Museum, Best Selling Hip Oldies, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 11.0

Record Showcase, April 1977

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 12.0

Rockit Records, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 13.0

Saint Expedite Distributing Co., undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 14.0

Schusler, Wilfried, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 15.0

Shimohara, Koji, List No. 9, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 16.0

Shimohara, Koji, List No. 10, August 1976

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 17.0

Stonesifer, Marty W., undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 18.0

Tuff Stuff Records, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 19.0

Valle, Mike, Sell Sheet #6, December 1972

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 20.0

Vetco Records, News Release: Charlie Feathers, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 21.0

Waxie Maxie's, undated

series 8.2

box 17

folder 22

item 22.0

Bear Family Records, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 1

Capers Corner, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 2

Collector's Choice Music, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 3

D-L Music, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 4

Golden Memories Records, Inc., undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 5

Golden Oldies Records, December 1979 - Winter 1981

series 8.2

box 18

folder 6

Goldmine, February 1984 - March 1984

series 8.2

box 18

folder 7

Heartland Music, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 8

The King's Collection, January 1981

series 8.2

box 18

folder 9

Lost-Nite Records, Inc. / Discount Oldies, August 1981

series 8.2

box 18

folder 10

L. R. Docks, October 1985

series 8.2

box 18

folder 11

Memory Lane Records, August 1983 - December 1985, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 12

Merrill, Frank, April 1990, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 13

Midnight Records #19, 20, 22, 1986 - 1987, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 14

Midnight Records #23, 24, Spring 1988 - Fall 1988

series 8.2

box 18

folder 15

Midnight Records, #27-29, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 16

Midnight Records, #30-32, undated

series 8.2

box 18

folder 17

Midnight Records, #34-37, Spring 1993 - 1995

series 8.2

box 18

folder 18

Music Mart, October 1990 - April 1991

series 8.2

box 18

folder 19

Music Monthly, April 2002

series 8.2

box 18

folder 20

Nina's Discount Oldies, Early Summer 2002 - Holiday 2003

series 8.2

box 18

folder 21

Nina's Discount Oldies, Holiday 2004 - February 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 1

Nina's Discount Oldies, March 2005 - c. April 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 2

Nina's Discount Oldies, May 2005 - August 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 3

Nina's Discount Oldies, August 2005 - September 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 4

Nina's Discount Oldies, Fall 2005 - October 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 5

Nina's Discount Oldies, November 2005 - December 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 6

Nina's Discount Oldies, c. December 2005, undated

series 8.2

box 19

folder 7

Olympic Records, August 2005 - September 2005

series 8.2

box 19

folder 8

Pennsylvania Musician, April 2002

series 8.2

box 19

folder 9

Popular Culture Ink., undated

series 8.2

box 19

folder 10

Record Collector's Monthly, July 1982 - September 1983

series 8.2

box 19

folder 11

Record Collector's Monthly, October 1983 - May 1984

series 8.2

box 20

folder 1

Record Collector's Quarterly, undated

series 8.2

box 20

folder 2

Record Finder, The, May 1978 - March 1981

series 8.2

box 20

folder 3

Record Finder, The, April 1981 - October 1984

series 8.2

box 20

folder 4

Record Finder, The, June 1985 - March 1990

series 8.2

box 20

folder 5

Record Finder, The, July 1990 - January 1993

series 8.2

box 20

folder 6

Record Finder, The, February 1994 - May 1994

series 8.2

box 20

folder 7

Record Finder, The, June 1994 - July 1994

series 8.2

box 20

folder 8

Record Finder, The, July 1994 - September 1994

series 8.2

box 20

folder 9

Record Finder, The, October 1994 - December 1994

series 8.2

box 20

folder 10

Record Finder, The, January 1995 - November 1995, undated

series 8.2

box 20

folder 11

Rockaway, Summer/Fall 1989 - January 1990

series 8.2

box 21

folder 1

Rockhouse, January 1990 - March 1991

series 8.2

box 21

folder 2

Time Barrier Express, The, March 1978

series 8.2

box 21

folder 3

Used (But Not Abused) Records, Summer 1988 - Spring 1989

series 8.2

box 21

folder 4

Vinyl Vendors, 1992

series 8.2

box 21

folder 5

Wortman, Cap, May 1977 - October 1977

series 8.2

box 21

folder 6

Yesteryear, December 1976 - May 1977

series 8.2

box 21

folder 7

Yesteryear / Wax Museum, July 1978, undated

series 8.2

box 21

folder 8

Miscellaneous, Newspaper oversize

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

Brennan, Bob, April 1988

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 1.0

Brennan, Bob; 20th Year of Record Auctions, April 1995

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 2.0

Hamilton, Edward R.; Bargain Books, December 2004

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 3.0

Mays Record & Talking Machine Co.; Auction 45, March 1977

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 4.0

Mays Record & Talking Machine Co.; Auction 47, December 1977

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 5.0

Mays Record & Talking Machine Co.; Auction 50, December 1981

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 6.0

Nostalgia World; No. 3, undated

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 7.0

Nostalgia World; No. 22, undated

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 8.0

Pierian Press, October 1988

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 9.0

Polosky, Frank M.; S.A. #103, January 1982

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 10.0

Polosky, Frank M.; S.A. #107, September 1982

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 11.0

Radwill, Allen; Novelty, Unusual, & Atrocious - Pt. 1, February 1989

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 12.0

Record Groove, The; Record Collectors Exchange No. 1, February 1982

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 13.0

Spectrum Music Video, 1994

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 14.0

The Video Disc; Catalog #1, undated

series 8.2

box 21

folder 9

item 15.0

Series 9: World War I, undated (1.50 linear feet)

This series includes sheet music from the World War II era, and in reaction to or in support of the war. This series is still being processed.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Please contact Curator for the most recent inventory of this series., unknown

series 9

box 1

folder 1

Series 10: World War II, undated (0.50 linear feet)

This series includes sheet music from the World War II era, and in reaction to or in support of the war. This series is still being processed.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Please contact Curator for the most recent inventory of this series., unknown

series 10

box 1

folder 1

Series 11: Miscellaneous, undated (unknown)

This series includes material that may be sorted back into the collection at a later point. This series is still being processed.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Please contact Curator for the most recent inventory of this series., unknown

series 11

box 1

folder 1

Related Material

To access cataloged Keesing Collection books:

Most books from the Keesing Collection have been cataloged and are available for use at Special Collections in Performing Arts. To view the available titles, visit the Libraries' catalog. Using the "type of search" drop-down menu, select "call number" and type "MKEESING" into the word search box. This brings up a multi-page, browse-able list of Keesing Collection books.